Our "cock-a-doodle-doo" encounters are powerful evidences of God's mercy because they beckon us back to Himself. They call us to learn and lean once more on His Son. Those are the times in our lives that we can truly sense how Peter must have felt. In those encounters, like Peter, we feel that Jesus is gazing directly at us. Awakening, we may wonder how much He knows. Alarmed, we suddenly realize that He knows everything. Alert, we begin to realize just how far we have fallen. Appalled, we cry out to the Lord, confessing and repenting of our sin, seeking His forgiveness.

III. Christ Is Our Advocate

At such times when I've realized that I've failed the Lord, when I've been jarred awake and come to my senses, I find myself repentant and sorry for my sin. At such times it is right to weep as Peter did. How is it with you? If you sense Jesus looking at you and it breaks your heart that you failed Him, you need to know something else. Jesus is praying for you. This is the third truth in our text: Christ is our Advocate.

Remember, Jesus did not Just warn Peter of the adversary. He did not simply predict the adversity Peter would endure. Our Lord did, and He does, far, far more. He prayed on Peter's behalf, and He prays on our behalf as well. We read in verse 32, "But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail." Notice that Jesus, our Advocate, pleads Peter's case before His Heavenly Father. Most of us here this morning, at one time or another, have prayed what is sometimes called "a sinner's prayer." That is, we have prayed a prayer admitting our own sin, asking for God's forgiveness, and accepting God's Son, Jesus Christ, as our personal Savior and Lord.

That is the beginning point of the Christian life. If you are someone who has yet to begin that journey, I encourage you to do so this morning. In fact, if you are sensing a wake-up call from God as we study the Word, you can pray in your heart and mind a prayer like this: "Dear God, I know that I have sinned. I can relate to Peter. I, too, can be bole and bull-headed. I confess my pride and those "small" sins. Forgive me. I truly want Your Son, Jesus, in my life. Right now, as best I know how, I ask Him to be my Savior. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to change me from the inside out. I yield to You my whole being -- mind, heart, body; my family, work, studies -- everything I give to You. I want You to be Lord of my life. I want to trust and follow You here and now. Amen."

A sinner's prayer is important. But when we have accepted Christ, we need to know about the Saviors' prayer on our behalf. All of us, I'm sure, pray many prayers. These prayers are vital so that God may work in and through us, to bring about His will. Our prayers matter to God and make a difference in the world. But greater still are Christ's prayers on our behalf. Jesus, in effect, says to each of us, as He did to Peter and the other disciples, "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." Jesus prayed for Peter, and that prayer made all the difference in Peter's life.